Febrile Illnesses

Febrile Illnesses

Febrile illness is the sudden onset of sickness accompanied by fever in children. If your child has developed a fever without an obvious cause and you believe there is reason for concern, it’s worth having him or her checked out by your pediatrician or family medicine physician as soon as possible. It is especially important to seek prompt medical attention any time a child aged three months or younger has a fever of 100.4 degrees F (rectal) or higher, as this may indicate the onset of a serious infection. Other reasons to seek immediate medical care include a fever that continues for more than three days in a child aged three months or older despite medication, quickened breathing or shortness of breath, neck and head pain, dizziness or confusion and signs of dehydration such as a lack of tears when crying or absence of a wet diaper for more than eight hours.